前(ぜん)〜

ぜん

prefix

former; previous; ex-

1. former; ex-; previous

Prefix indicating someone or something that held a position or existed before.

前(ぜん)社長(しゃちょう)は去年(きょねん)退任(たいにん)した。

The former president retired last year.

前(ぜん) + 社長(しゃちょう) = former president

前(ぜん)首相(しゅしょう)が回顧録(かいころく)を出版(しゅっぱん)した。

The former prime minister published a memoir.

前回(ぜんかい)の結果(けっか)より良(よ)かった。

The results were better than last time.

2. pre-; before

Prefix indicating the time before something.

前半(ぜんはん)は難(むずか)しかったが、後半(こうはん)は簡単(かんたん)だった。

The first half was difficult, but the second half was easy.

前(ぜん) + 半(はん) = first half

戦前(せんぜん)の日本(にほん)について調(しら)べている。

I'm researching pre-war Japan.

戦(せん) + 前(ぜん) = pre-war (suffix use)

食前(しょくぜん)に薬(くすり)を飲(の)んでください。

Please take the medicine before meals.

前(ぜん)〜 is a prefix meaning 'former' or 'previous.'

Common compounds (FORMER)

前(ぜん)社長(しゃちょう) (former company president)
前(ぜん)首相(しゅしょう) (former prime minister)
前(ぜん)大統領(だいとうりょう) (former president)
前任(ぜんにん) (predecessor)
前例(ぜんれい) (precedent)

Common compounds (BEFORE/FIRST)

前半(ぜんはん) (first half)
前日(ぜんじつ) (the day before)
前回(ぜんかい) (last time; previous occasion)
前年(ぜんねん) (previous year)

AS SUFFIX (〜前(ぜん)):

戦前(せんぜん) (pre-war)
食前(しょくぜん) (before meals)
午前(ごぜん) (morning; a.m.)

Similar words

現(げん)〜 (current) or 後(ご)〜 (after; latter)

Related Words

Antonym: 現(げん)〜 (current; present)

Synonym: 元(もと) (former; ex- (native reading))

Compare: 後(ご) (after ~)

general

Added 2026.1.13 16:20 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

03500/03957_zen